Combining Boulevard’s expertise at making Belgian-style witbiers with Deschutes’ skill at brewing hop-forward ales, this beer puts a new spin on the idea of collaborative brewing. Working from a single recipe, brewmasters Steven Pauwels of Boulevard and Larry Sidor of Deschutes have produced two separate beers, more than 1,600 miles apart.

Despite the beer’s shared recipe, each of the two versions possess a unique identity, reflected in their naming and packaging. Boulevard’s half of the equation, christened Collaboration #2, is available throughout our selling region in both 750mL bottles and in kegs. Brewed at their Bend, Oregon facility, Deschutes’ effort is the second beer in their new Conflux collaboration series, and is available throughout their selling region in kegs and 22-ounce bottles. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/71419

Pours a pale golden colour with a bit of cloud; off-white head sticks around nicely. Lacing is gorgeous. Looks great.

Smells interesting. Citric, tangy with a touch of sour. Lemon, some grapefruit and mild phenolic notes at the back. Rindy, but fruity. Quite pleasant.

Creamy upfront with light vanilla notes, then lots of tangy fruit. Lemon with a slight vinegar acidity as well, cidery and slightly woody, touch of buttery Chardonnay on the back. Zippy and refreshing, a lot of tang but doesn't lean too heavy on the bitterness. Really enjoyable.

Smooth mouthfeel, but a bit of bitter puckering on the back, which is unnecessary.

Deschutes, my favorite Oregon brewery, and Boulevard? Collaborating? Lucky enough for me, I went to Portland the week this came out and had the Deschutes version - on tap - then came back home to the KC area and had this bottle. Superb!

It's not really an IPA. It's really more of a witbier with more hops. Not much else I can say, it's a lot like the old Two Joker's witbier Boulevard had, with all those delicious hops like Deschutes uses in their super hoppy beers.

Bottle purchased from Belmont Station in Portland. Despite its proximity to Deschutes, this is actually the Boulevard version.

Pours a really lovely bright but hazed golden yellow colour. The haze adds a lovely sheen and sparkle to the body of the beer. Head is firm, fine and lovely and frothy, but mild and light at the same time, leaving about as much residue as a cloud. Very little lacing, and very little weight to the head itself. It really looks very good indeed, though.

Nose is clear and bright, but somewhat grassy, leaving a slightly prickly vegetative note in the aroma. There's a subtle hint of seawater, or perhaps chlorine to it too, not in a bad way, but in a fresh, slightly too eager brightness kind of way. Perhaps a dot of pepper to it as well, something that gives it something slightly spicy. It's OK, but I was expecting something a little bit more full and better integrated.

Taste is clear and bright, with a brusque, peppery note on the back. Light leafy hoppiness pervades throughout, but I think there must be a good dash of the wit botanicals in here as well: there's certainly an insidious spicy character that drifts through. The 7.5% ABV is hidden pretty well, but there could be a dash more body to support the beer overall. Feel is a little light as a result.

Overall. This is decent stuff. It's a nicely put together White IPA which leans a little heavily on the White, while maintaining some of the aggression of an IPA. I'm probably not the biggest fan, but I'm a fan nonetheless. But just in fair weather.

Overall, I feel that calling this an IPA is a bit misleading, as this comes across more as a mildly hoppy, more citrusy-than-usual witbier. Still enjoyable as a beer, rich with pleasant witbier-like flavors and herbs at this point.

Aroma is similar to a Belgian wit, but with stronger and more herbal fragrances. In particular, hearty wheat malt is noticeable, as well as orange essence, coriander, lemongrass, and some yeastiness.

Taste is features a base of fairly sweet wheat malt combined with orange juice and rind, with very noticeable, but still secondary flavors of coriander, lemongrass, and Belgian yeast and their byproducts. Very robust flavors, just not much of a noticeable hop component in this "IPA," though again, the bottle is about a year old. Lingering aftertaste of light, fruity citrus and a bit of balanced sweetness and bitterness.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy bodied with mid-level carbonation, creating a somewhat thick mouthfeel with carbonation that fizzes and foams this up slightly across the palate. Finish is semi-dry. Generally pleasant across the palate, nothing offensive.